This is what they needed going into SummerSlam - Jericho as a viable contender. Cena sold the hell out of the Walls of Jericho, and the "can't lift him for the FU" bit was pretty formula, but a great bit of the kind of in match continuity that WWE main events have been lacking. Cena got his ass kicked, but still came through, in a surprisingly believable way. That's how you establish your champ.
...so, when Jericho returns, is it Raw or Smackdown? And will he be a face, or whiny heel?
Hey, how 'bout that segway into our next title challenger? Makes it feel like they actually planned ahead.